Mine is 20’ (20’ 3" according to manufacturer specs) but it’s aluminum (Xpress H20B w/115 SHO) so mine would be an exception. Granted, it’s rated for up to a 150 but the slightly decreased fuel efficiency and the added weight doesn’t justify the added MPH for me. With my boat being aluminum, I simply don’t need the added horsepower. She gets on plain fast and rides smooth. Once upon a time, I would’ve opted for the 150 just so I could go faster but luckily, I’ve outgrown that.
No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.
Pick the one that has the closest good dealer/service shop. I like my ETEC 115…awesome hole shot and power. BUT the dealer/service
options around here are thin…basically McClellanville or Goose Creek.
THE NEW MERCURY 4 STROKE 115 AND 150 (NO EXPERIENCE WITH THE XS VERSION) ARE WELL DESIGNED AND EASY TO WORK ON…
BUT FOR LONG TERM RELIABILITY THEY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME KEEPING THEM TOGETHER.
TOWBOAT GETS A HUGE DISCOUNT ON MERCURY, SO A FEW YEARS AGO HE REPOWERED HIS FLEET WITH MERCURY.
IN LESS THAN I YEAR AND 800 HOURS, HE WENT THROUGH 4 POWER HEADS ON 1 TWIN ENGINE BOAT.
THEN THE 2 OPTIMAX 200’S WENT THROUGH SEVERAL COMPRESSORS, FUEL/AIR REGULATORS.
ALL OF IT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AT HALL MARINE, BUT HE COULDNT KEEP THE THINGS RUNNING.
HE KEPT THE MERCURY’S LESS THAN A YEAR, SOLD THEM ALL AND PAID MORE MONEY TO REPOWER EVERYTHING WITH YAMAHA.
No matter how much it hurts, how dark it gets, or how far you fall…you are never out of the fight.
I don’t think you can run a 20" shaft on that boat model. Maybe with a huge jack plate.
Is run the etec 115 or the Yamaha 150. I don’t think I would want a 115 yammie. Every boat I see with them seems to be underpowered.
I’ve had my Evinrude for a longtime. 2001 and I put a decent amount of hours. Trouble-free. You really can’t go wrong with an Evinrude V4 block. My neighbor has an Etec and his has been trouble free and I believe it’s a 2007. Only issues was finding a tech to do the plug swap since they have to be indexed, but you rarely have to service an Etec anyway and most of it can be done in the driveway.
“Wailord”
1979 17’ Montauk
90 Johnson
Wilderness Ride 115
Did I interpret wrong, or did I get that you feel that all boats in that size range with a 115 were possibly underpowered? Nevermind my comment I was going to post.
So…I recently had a 22; CC with T top that had a 115. The funny thing is, is that its max hp rating was 115.
There is a huge price difference between a 115 and 150 Yamaha. Most of the 18-21 boats I see with a 115 is trying to keep to a price point to be competitive. That is all I was saying. A Yammie 115 seems to be a common power plant for dealers. Gets folks in the door with Yamaha power, and gets the sale without adding $5k to the price for a 150. Key West, Tidewater, Sportsman, Sea Pro. Seen them all do it. I wouldn’t own a deep v 18’+ or 19’+ bay boat with a Yamaha 115, buts that’s just me. And I am talking fiberglass boats here and the Yamaha 115. Not other outboards or aluminum boats.
When my 225 merc. bit the dust, I ran my old(97) 115 2 stroke Yam on a 23’ boat for a year. Pulled a 25’ tri net a lot and went off shore in the gulf many times, Not fast but reliable, put it back on my whaler and got a new 250 E tec on the boat now, to much power for a 71 year old but great gas mileage!
Little late to reply, but I also just bought a Tidewater 1910 and we did the sea trial with 5 adults and the 115hp motor was woefully underpowered. Bumped up to the 150 and now the boat runs like it should. I agree with Geronimo, manufacturers are trying to get people in 19’ boats for “under $30k”. But I don’t want to run at WOT just to keep up. I’m now cruising 4000rpms at 33mph.
PS. I went with the 150HO Etec which weighs 433lbs. Only have 7 hours on it, but man I love the hole shot! It was 28lbs heavier than the 115 Etec and 60lbs lighter than the Yam F150.
Buying the Yamaha is like buying a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. There may be others out there just as good or better but you will never have that nagging concern with the Yamaha that you may have trouble ahead. Also, chris V above is a very experienced outboard mechanic who I know and trust his opinion.